T4 vs T4A: Which Slip Do You Get and What Does It Mean?

Tax season in Canada comes with a pile of slips in your mailbox — or your CRA My Account inbox. Two of the most common are the T4 and the T4A. They look similar, but they report very different types of income. Getting them confused can lead to errors on your return.

Here is exactly what each slip means and what to do with it.

The T4: Employment Income

A T4 – Statement of Remuneration Paid is issued by your employer if you are an employee. It shows:

• Box 14: Total employment income (before deductions)
• Box 16/16A: Employee CPP contributions (Box 16A covers CPP2 — the second enhanced contribution tier introduced in 2024 for higher earners)’s CPP contributions
• Box 18: Employee’s EI premiums
• Box 22: Income tax deducted
• Box 52: Pension adjustment (if applicable)
• Box 40: Taxable allowances and benefits (like a company car)

Your employer must issue your T4 by the last day of February each year for the prior tax year. If you had multiple jobs, you will have multiple T4s — report all of them.

The T4A: Other Income

A T4A – Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income is a catch-all slip for income that is not regular employment. You might receive a T4A for:

• Box 20: Self-employment commissions paid to you by a company (common for real estate agents, insurance brokers, freelancers)
• Box 48: Fees for services (the most common one for contractors and consultants — if a company paid you $500 or more as a non-employee, they must issue a T4A)
• Box 105: Scholarships, bursaries, and fellowships
• Box 016: Pension or superannuation income
• Box 022: Income tax deducted
• COVID-related benefits: CERB, CESB, and CRB were also reported on T4As

If you do any freelance, consulting, or contract work and a company paid you more than $500 in a calendar year, expect a T4A — even if you also have a T4 from your day job.

The Key Difference: Tax Withholding

Here is the most important practical difference: T4 income usually has tax withheld at source by your employer. T4A income for self-employment or contract work usually has no tax withheld — you are responsible for setting aside money to pay CRA yourself.

This is why many freelancers get a surprise tax bill in April. If you receive a T4A with Box 20 or Box 48 income and no tax was withheld (Box 22 is blank), budget for paying taxes on that income.

How to Report Each Slip

T4: Enter Box 14 on line 10100 of your T1 return. CPP, EI, and tax deducted flow automatically through Schedule 1.

T4A Box 48 (fees for services): This is self-employment income. Report it on Form T2125 (Business Income), not just as other income on line 10400. This means you can also deduct related business expenses — a significant advantage.

T4A Box 105 (scholarships): Scholarships for full-time students are generally exempt from tax. Report the full amount on line 13010, then claim the exemption.

T4A Box 016 (pension): Report on line 11500. You may be eligible for the pension income tax credit and pension income splitting.

What If a Slip Is Wrong?

If the amounts on your T4 or T4A do not match your records, contact the issuer first. They can issue an amended slip (called a T4 Amendment). Do not just ignore the discrepancy — CRA matches slips to returns electronically, and unexplained differences trigger reviews.

Missing a Slip?

Check your CRA My Account — slips from employers and payers are uploaded there by March. If a slip is missing, you still need to report the income. Estimate based on your own records and file accurately; do not leave income off your return because a slip did not arrive.

Confused by the slips you received this tax season? Book a consultation with us — we will make sure every slip is reported in the right place and you are not paying more tax than you should.